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Report
Annual Report: Bolivia 2013
Head of state and government Evo Morales Ayma Indigenous Peoples’ rights to consultation and to free, prior and informed consent over developments affecting them remained unfulfilled. Victims of human rights violations committed during past military regimes continued to be denied full reparations. Delays in the administration of justice persisted. Violations of freedom of expression were reported. Plurinational State of Bolivia Background Protests in support of economic and social demands and Indigenous Peoples’ rights were widespread. In some cases police responded with excessive use of force. In September, following his visit to Bolivia, the UN Special Rapporteur on racism acknowledged some…
May 16, 2013
Report
Annual Report: Brazil 2013
Federative Republic of Brazil Head of state and government Dilma Rousseff Levels of violent crime remained high. The authorities frequently responded with excessive force and torture. Young black men continued to make up a disproportionate number of homicide victims. Torture and other ill-treatment were reported in the detention system, which was characterized by cruel, inhuman and degrading conditions. Rural workers and Indigenous Peoples and Quilombola communities (descendants of runaway slaves) suffered intimidation and attacks. Forced evictions in both urban and rural settings remained a serious concern. Background The socio-economic situation continued to improve, with more people moving out of extreme…
May 16, 2013
Report
Annual Report: Bulgaria 2013
REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Head of state Rosen Plevneliev (replaced Georgi Parvanov) Head of government Boyko Borissov Roma continued to face discrimination in areas such as education, employment, health care and housing. Conditions of detention fell short of international human rights standards. Homophobic violence persisted. Discrimination – Roma In January, the UN Independent Expert on minority issues expressed concerns that Roma remained at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder in key areas such as education, employment, health care and housing. Roma continued to be vulnerable to forced evictions. On 24 April, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in the case…
May 16, 2013
Report
Annual Report: Burkina Faso 2013
BURKINA FASO Head of state Blaise Compaoré Head of government Luc Adolphe Tiao Demonstrations and clashes took place in the months before the December legislative and municipal elections against a background of attempts by the President’s party to amend the Constitution in order to allow President Compaoré to run for another term. As a result of the crisis in Mali, up to 100,000 people sought refuge in the north of Burkina Faso. Camps lacked basic necessities and health care. Torture and other ill-treatment In January, Moumouni Isaac Zongo and Ousséni Compaoré, arrested on suspicion of theft, were ill-treated by members…
May 16, 2013
Press Release
“Shocking Levels” of Sexual Abuse in Prisons Cannot Continue
Response to the release of the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics annual report, Sexual Victimizations in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2011-12.
May 16, 2013
Report
Annual Report: Benin 2013
REPUBLIC OF BENIN Head of state Thomas Boni Yayi Head of government Pascal Koupaki Freedom of expression In September, a private television channel, Canal 3, was interrupted for a few days following statements by Lionel Agbo, a former adviser to President Boni Yayi, accusing the Head of State of corruption. The state television justified this cut by referring to non-compliance with transmission rules. Lionel Agbo was charged with offending the Head of State but had not been tried by the end of the year. Prison conditions Prisons remained overcrowded. The prison in Cotonou held six times its capacity, resulting in…
May 16, 2013
Report
Annual Report: Burundi 2013
Republic of Burundi Head of state and government Pierre Nkurunziza The cycle of impunity remained unbroken and the government did not fully investigate and prosecute extrajudicial executions from previous years. Promising signs that the government would establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2012 faded progressively throughout the year. Human rights defenders and journalists faced repression because of their work. Background The ruling party, the National Council for Defence of Democracy-Forces for Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), was able to govern without any effective opposition engagement. The ruling party and ADC-Ikibiri, the coalition of opposition parties which withdrew from the 2010…
May 16, 2013
Report
Annual Report: Cambodia 2013
Kingdom of Cambodia Head of state King Norodom Sihamoni Head of government Hun Sen Respect for freedom of expression, association and assembly deteriorated. The authorities increasingly used excessive force against peaceful protesters. Human rights defenders faced threats, harassment, legal action and violence. Forced evictions, land disputes and land grabbing continued to affect thousands of people. Impunity for perpetrators of human rights abuses and a non-independent judiciary remained major problems, with flawed or no investigations into killings and shootings. Judicial investigations at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia stalled as allegations of government interference persisted. Background The ruling Cambodian…
May 16, 2013
Update
Turning Away From Celebrating Death
In Nebraska, support for death penalty abolition is once again on the rise; as elsewhere, legislators and the public are losing interest in pursuing death.
May 16, 2013
Update
How To Use Social Media In Human Rights Campaigning
How can social media best be incorporated into human rights campaigning?
May 16, 2013
Update
Escalating Attacks on Religious Minorities in Indonesia
Despite commitments made in local and international laws, the Indonesian authorities are failing to protect religious minority groups from the increasing attacks they are subject to.
May 16, 2013
Report
Annual Report: Bangladesh 2013
People’s Republic of Bangladesh Head of state Zillur Rahman Head of government Sheikh Hasina Some 30 extrajudicial executions were reported. State security forces were implicated in torture and other ill-treatment and at least 10 enforced disappearances. Political violence resulted in the death of at least four men. Women continued to be subjected to various forms of violence. The government failed to protect Indigenous communities from attack by Bengali settlers. At least 111 workers died in a factory fire, some allegedly because officials refused to let them leave the premises. More than 20 Buddhist temples and monasteries, one Hindu temple and…
May 15, 2013